Microsoft, Autodesk Guilty of Patent Infringement

rfunches writes "A Texas jury has awarded $133 million in damages to David Colvin, after finding Microsoft and Autodesk guilty of infringing upon Colvin's two software patents for software antipiracy protection. Colvin's company, z4 Technologies Inc., filed patents for 'passwords and codes assigned to individual software copies to prevent unauthorized copies.' Microsoft was ordered to pay $115 million, and Autodesk $18 million for infringement of the product-activation schemes. A spokesman from Microsoft contends that 'Microsoft developed its own product-activation technologies well before z4 Technologies filed for its patent.' Appeals are expected."

Comments

Re:Another business plan via lawsuits

[Billosaur]

Looks like another lawyer trick.

That's all the patent system has turned into is a new revenue stream for lawyers. The patent system is killing software innovation by putting weaker companies completely out of business and making stronger companies waste valuable time and resources fighting baseless patent lawsuits. And mind you, we the customers are taking it on the chin as the prices go up.

No one like to see Microsoft win, but this would be a case where a judge could send a message to patent squatters and say to them: find another line of work. Microsoft would just happen to be the beneficiary.